In the ever-evolving landscape of the manufacturing industry, the need for modernization and digital transformation has taken center stage. The rise of Industry 4.0, characterized by the integration of advanced technologies and the digitization of manufacturing processes, has opened up new possibilities for increased efficiency, productivity, and cost savings. Shabodi, a leading innovator in advanced networking solutions, is at the forefront of this revolution, pioneering the migration to Industry 4.0 through their hybrid advanced networks.
Manufacturers today face numerous challenges, particularly in the era of great power competition. As countries strive to enhance their global competitiveness, the manufacturing industry must adapt to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies and market demands. The race to embrace digitalization and automation has become crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the domestic and global markets.
The Shabodi Solution
Shabodi’s hybrid advanced networks represent a paradigm shift in the manufacturing industry. For clarity, two forms of hybrid networks are in scope:
- Multi-Technology Hybrid Network (hybrid-technology): whether in a private or public environment, more than one networking technology is involved in delivering service. For instance, a factory which uses 5G to cover assembly stations and Wi-Fi 6 to cover loading bays and yards. This also includes scenarios of multiple vendors within the same technology family.
- Multi-Provider Hybrid Network (hybrid-provider): includes scenarios where more than one provider is involved in delivering required services, most often bridging private and public infrastructures. This can also include multiple managed service providers (MSPs) that own portions of an enterprise’s network infrastructure.
Hybrid networks can involve straightforward operations with disparate networks that are individually managed with little to no mix of traffic. Or they can involve handoffs between network segments as devices migrate from one location to another. The goals, whether crossing technologies, vendors or network boundaries, are to a) ensure continuity of device registration, b) assurance of session characteristics and level of communication and c) continuity of application adjustments of network conditions to achieve user experience objectives.
Hybrid-Technologies
These scenarios leverage the power of advanced networking technologies, such as LTE, 5G, 6G, SDWAN, and Wi-Fi 6, to create a seamless and interconnected ecosystem within manufacturing facilities. By integrating network-aware applications with advanced edge processing, Shabodi enables manufacturers to harness the full potential of digital transformation.
The adoption of hybrid-technology advanced networks offers a multitude of benefits to manufacturers. Firstly, these networks enable increased efficiency and productivity by providing real-time data and insights throughout the manufacturing process. This allows for quicker decision-making, optimized resource allocation, and streamlined operations.
Secondly, hybrid-technology advanced networks offer significant cost savings by reducing downtime, minimizing waste, and optimizing energy consumption. By leveraging the power of advanced networking technologies, manufacturers can achieve higher levels of automation and predictive maintenance, leading to improved operational efficiency and reduced costs.
Another of the key features of Shabodi’s hybrid advanced networks is their ability to support a more distributed architecture. Traditionally, manufacturing operations have been centralized, with a hierarchical structure that can hinder communication and collaboration. However, Shabodi’s networks break down these barriers by providing a robust communication tool specifically designed for decentralized and disaggregated operations.
Shabodi’s AEP allows control and operational applications to function on what they want to achieve, and to conduct operations through a single point of integration – that being the AEP’s simplified APIs. With the application’s intent provided, and with knowledge of targeted devices and locations, including not only the specific network but also the technology into which the device is registered, the AEP carries out the applications command handling all of the complexity of inter-technology communication. The application and device share a data stream providing the flow with desired outcomes; the AEP hides the details and makes it the shared data stream possible.
Hybrid-Providers
In multi-provider scenarios, such as having the main campus covered by a private 5G network, and cross-city campuses, including transit corridors, covered by public 5G providers, continuity between devices and their applications is the primary goal. Security protocols and authentication across trust zones, bandwidth and jitter alignment, QoS profile alignment and service authentication are some of the obstacles to overcome. Moving from one private network to another within the same facility can be easily managed. Moving to a completely different physical service environment, with distinct service policies, is completely different and more difficult to manage.
Some of the obstacles can be overcome through commercial agreements with network providers and multiple SIMs or profiles with which devices can attach to the receiving network. But that doesn’t mean the device maintains the ability to deliver the required service to the application. A remotely controlled transport pod, moving from private 5G onto public 5G as it transits from a loading platform to a staging yard a couple of miles away, may lose the critical network characteristics that allow it to operate at full spec. It may lead to disastrous outcomes, especially if the public network is congested, or if there are multiple such pods moving along the streets.
Shabodi’s AEP and associate tools provide the means to overcome these obstacles and smoothen out the hybrid-provider experience. Shabodi’s AEP can reach across multiple trust zones to register with multiple network providers’ infrastructures. In doing so it will know how to adjust the network components to provide the best outcomes, regardless of vendor or technology foundation. Further, the AEP can establish end-to-end dedicated paths with defined QoS, guaranteed bit rate, and tuned latency to accommodate the changing network conditions throughout the device’s journey.
AEP provides the ability to track and visualize devices and associated applications across networks. In this capability, manufacturers derive insights into their operations not previously achievable with hybrid infrastructures. This enhances situational awareness and facilitates effective decision-making by providing real-time visualization of operations in a geospatial context. Further, whether network management or an operational application, using tools such as AEP’s Insights provides greater knowledge of operational challenges, providing the means to assess and correct obstacles as they arise.
Shabodi’s hybrid-provider advanced networks also facilitate the adoption of new operational concepts that are more distributed and integrated. By abstracting network details from applications, thereby providing the appearance of the application of a single network infrastructure, manufacturers can embrace innovative approaches to manufacturing, such as agile manufacturing, flexible production lines, and collaborative robotics.
The Final Word
Shabodi’s commitment to pioneering the migration to Industry 4.0 through hybrid advanced networks is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry. By leveraging the power of network-aware applications and embracing digital transformation, Shabodi is enabling companies to enhance their operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve product quality.
As professionals and enthusiasts in the manufacturing industry, it is crucial to stay updated and embrace the advancements brought by Industry 4.0. Shabodi’s vision for the future of manufacturing through advanced networks is an exciting prospect, and by embracing these technologies, businesses can stay ahead of the competition and thrive in this digital era. Join Shabodi on this transformative journey and be a part of shaping the future of manufacturing.
To learn more, download our Maximize 5G investment in Manufacturing With Network-Aware Applications whitepaper here.
